Celebrating its 48th event in 2025, the award-winning Port Fairy Folk Festival today announced another 17 artists who will join the line-up for the major event taking place over the March long weekend.
Music lovers are encouraged to snap up tickets for the four-day event and soak up seaside and song culture. For almost 50 years, the magical Port Fairy seaside village has become a destination for travellers, an annual pilgrimage for fans looking to combine the sun and surf of Port Fairy with their favourite or soon to be discovered artist.
Get your tickets now and see some of the new additions below!
BONNY LIGHT HORSEMAN (USA)
Bonny Light Horseman is the singular combination of three powerful and tender artists, – Anaïs Mitchell, Eric D. Johnson, and Josh Kaufman. Theirs is the stuff that defines folk music as a genre: love and loss, hope and sorrow, community and family, change and time. Their debut album received a Grammy nomination for Best Folk Album, and the track “Deep in Love” was nominated for Best American Roots Performance. Bonny Light Horseman’s new album, Keep Me on Your Mind/See You Free, is an ode to the blessed mess of our humanity.
DON WALKER
Don Walker’s songs have been mapping Australia, from Kings Cross to regional towns and the spaces between, for more than thirty years, through solo albums and shows, a couple of albums with Tex, Don and Charlie, back to his youth as a member of Cold Chisel. His first book, “Shots”, was published by Black Inc. in 2009. Don’s latest solo album, Hully Gully, was released in August 2013. He continues to tour from time to time with the Suave F**ks. Walker has a new live album being released soon, based on his recent studio album Lightning In A Clear Blue Sky.
CAT POWER SINGS DYLAN (USA)
The great CAT POWER is coming to Port Fairy Folk Festival, performing Bob Dylan’s lifechanging set in Cat Power Sings Dylan: The 1966 Royal Albert Hall Concert.
Dylan’s powerful concert, seen in the capital cities of Australia in April 1966 and then a month later at the Manchester Free Trade Hall was THAT performance which saw Bob Dylan switch from acoustic to electric midway through the show, drawing passionate fury from an audience of folk purists and forever altering the course of rock ‘n’ roll.
BRIAN NANKERVIS
Brian has been writing, producing and co-hosting ‘RocKwiz’ since 2005. Brian also co-hosts ‘The Friday Revue’ on ABC Radio Melbourne. From 2021 to 2023 he hosted ‘Songs and Stories’, a national ABC radio show. He was a writer/performer on ‘Let The Blood Run Free’ and appeared regularly on ‘Hey Hey It’s Saturday’ as the poet Raymond J Bartholomeuz. Brian contributes regularly to The Age and Triple RRR and performs a poetry show in schools.
BRISCOE SISTERS
Yalanji trio Briscoe Sisters bring language and song to the stage, fusing gospel with their yalanji spirituality. Celebrating over 2 decades in the industry, Briscoe Sisters have been recognised as Port Fairy’s Matons. Young Talent of the Year (2005) and Top 4 Deadly’s New Talent (2004). Briscoe Sisters – Deline, Naurita and Merindi – are back touring and sharing their songs and stories about their music and cultural work over two decades, and how they are inspiring the next generation. The three sisters continue to empower and heal spirits through song.
CHARM OF FINCHES
Australian sister duo Charm of Finches delivers intricate folk-pop that is simultaneously graceful and darkly bewitching. Their seamless blood harmonies traverse melancholy and wonder in equal measure. They return to Port Fairy with a full band line-up, performing songs from their latest album as well as exciting new material. The sisters, Mabel and Ivy Windred-Wornes, have toured extensively through the UK, Europe and Canada in 2022, 2023 and 2024.
CHECKERBOARD LOUNGE
Playful and unyielding, Carl Pannuzzo, revered as one of the greatest voices in Australia, is joined by the cream of Australia’s talent: guitar master Shannon Bourne, Hammond virtuoso Tim Neal, and ineffable bassist Zoë Frater.
Breathing fire, virtuosity and improvisation into classic soul and blues/roots originals, no two shows are the same. Vibrant and unforgettable, a Checkerboard show is a tour-de-force of honesty, integrity and truthful world class musicianship.
DAVID ARDEN
David Arden’s long and significant career is marked by his dedication to celebrating and preserving First Nation culture and history through music.
His collaborations with other artists and his ongoing performances have made a significant impact on the Australian music scene, and he continues to be a vital figure in promoting and sharing First Nation stories and traditions through his music, as a Gunditjmara/Kokatha Songman.
JEFF LANG
Jeff Lang is one of Australia’s most influential and iconic musicians. With a career spanning three decades, Jeff Lang has released over 30 albums, won 3 ARIA Awards and written a book, amongst many other achievements.
The guitarist, songwriter, vocalist and producer continues to enjoy a worldwide reputation as a guitar virtuoso, and he consistently inspires and challenges his audiences by transcending and defying expectation. Jeff’s latest album More Life features collaborations with numerous high profile guests.